Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM2’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous and sturdy growth habit; dark greyed purple-colored leaves; numerous inflorescences with red-colored flowers; and good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Botanical designation: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM2’.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JM2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant, botanically known as Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM2’ and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JM2’.

The new Crapemyrtle plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Poplarville, Miss. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new vigorous and freely-branching Crapemyrtle plants with dark-colored leaves and attractive flower colors.

The new Crapemyrtle plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor during the summer of 2015 of Lagerstroemia indica ‘Miss Frances’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Crapemyrtle plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in May, 2016 as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Poplarville, Miss.

Asexual reproduction of the new Crapemyrtle plant by vegetative softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Poplarville, Miss. since August, 2016 has shown that the unique features of the new Crapemyrtle plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JM2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JM2’ as a new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous and sturdy growth habit.     -   4. Dark greyed purple-colored leaves.     -   5. Numerous inflorescences with red-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Miss Frances’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Miss Frances’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more twisting         than leaves of plants of ‘Miss Frances’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-colored         leaves whereas plants of ‘Miss Frances’ have medium         green-colored leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have red-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘Miss Frances’ have darker red-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Ebony Flame’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of Ebony Flame in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are larger and more vigorous         than plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have larger and broader leaves         than plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.     -   3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit IV’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,342. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Whit IV’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle grow faster and mature earlier         than plants of ‘Whit IV’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have twisting dark greyed         purple-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Whit IV’ have flat         medium green-colored leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have red-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘Whit IV’ have lighter red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit II’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,296. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Whit II’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are twisting whereas         leaves of plants of ‘Whit II’ are flat.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-colored         leaves whereas plants of ‘Whit II’ have dark green-colored         leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have lighter red-colored         flowers than plants of ‘Whit II’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Crapemyrtle plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Crapemyrtle plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘JM2’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JM2’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 7-gallon containers in Park Hill, Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. during the summer in outdoor nurseries and under cultural conditions which closely approximate commercial Crapemyrtle production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 35° C. and night temperatures averaged 22° C. Plants were three years when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM2’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Miss             Frances’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative softwood and hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one             month at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one             month for softwood cuttings and about two months for             hardwood cuttings at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             brownish white in color, actual color is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to             somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and             sturdy growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about ten             primary branches each with numerous secondary and tertiary             lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 135 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 83 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 84 cm.         -   Diameter, at soil level.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Erect to about 45° from vertical.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; woody with age.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 187A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 177A to 177B.         -   Color, at the base of the plant.—Close to N199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N186A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N199A to N199B.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A variably             tinged with close to 187A or close to 200A; midvein, close             to between 183A and 185A; lateral venation, similar to             lamina color; autumnal color, close to between 45A and 53A.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 200A to 200B             or close to N200A; midvein, close to 146A; lateral venation,             close to 146A to 146B; autumnal color, close to 184B to             184C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to between 183A             and 185A. Color, lower surface: Close to 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Showy single ruffled             flowers arranged in terminal panicles; freely flowering             habit with usually about 65 flowers per inflorescence and             numerous inflorescences developing during the flowering             season; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly depending             on position on the panicle; flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Crapemyrtle             flower during the mid-summer into the autumn in Fort Worth,             Tex.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower length.—About 4.25 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.25 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to 185A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in             a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Roughly orbicular. Apex: Rounded, undulate, ruffled.             Base: Rounded and fused into a slender tube. Margin: Entire,             undulate, ruffled. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft and delicate; matte. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to between 46A             and 53A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             between 46A and 53A; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in             a single whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse, fused. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Texture, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Towards the base, close to NN155D;             mid-section, close to 53A; towards the apex, close to 146A.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 185A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 45° from stem             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 187A to 187B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:             About 24. Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close             to NN155D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen: None observed             to date. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: Six. Pistil length:             About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close             to 185A. Stigma appearance: Oblong. Stigma color: Close to             200B. Ovary: Close to 154D.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Crapemyrtle to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 38° C. and to be     cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been     observed to be resistant to leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) and     powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Plants of the new     Crapemyrtle have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Crapemyrtle plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM2’ as illustrated and described. 